System and Method for Updating Geo-Fencing Information on Mobile Devices

ABSTRACT

A system and method of automatically replacing the geographic location of geo-fences stored in memory of a telematics system is described. The location of an asset is determined using an on-board telematics device with a location device. The location of the asset is compared with the location of predefined geo-fences stored in memory on the asset. When the asset is located within a geo-fence which triggers the replacement of geo-fences, the telematics system causes the asset to receive a new set of geo-fences, which replace the existing set of geo-fences in the telematics system memory. The operational cost of the system is reduced by minimizing communications charges when a reduced number of transmissions is needed to replace geo-fences stored in memory on the asset.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.11/303,394, filed on Dec. 16, 2005. The entire teachings of the aboveapplication are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system and method of use of geo-fences withmobile assets, and more particularly in providing a system and method ofautomatically updating the geo-fences stored in memory of a devicelocated on the asset.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Companies that use large fleets of vehicles are subject to misuse ortheft of their fleet vehicles. For example, it is likely that somevehicles in a large fleet will be used by employees withoutauthorization or will at least occasionally be subject to theft. Evenemployees who are authorized to use a vehicle for some purposes may, insome instances, deviate from an authorized route or otherwise make anunauthorized use of the vehicle. One way to reduce these problems is toinstall a monitoring system to track the location of vehicles in afleet. Such telematics devices can enable a fleet manager to monitor thelocation of vehicles in the fleet to determine when they are located inun-authorized areas, or are being used at un-authorized times.

Locating, tracking and monitoring protocols are available for use inconjunction with physical boundaries and fences, as necessary, tolocate, track and monitor the location and proximity of an objectrelative to the physical boundary. Although locating an object to betracked may be achieved using transmitter/receiver-based technology,these types of systems have proven to be limited in their application.It becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to monitor and track anobject the larger the circumscribed area becomes. Monitoring alsobecomes increasing difficult in an area with challenging topographicalterrain.

Several solutions to the problem of tracking and monitoring objects tobe tracked have been tried or implemented with varying levels ofsuccess. Widely used procedures for monitoring the movement of fleetvehicles involve the use of geo-fencing, or establishing an electronicboundary around areas of interest. Systems have been established for thedetection of the theft of vehicles while they are stopped at a customerslocation, or at a central location such as a distribution point. In somesystems the operator of the vehicle manually activates a geo-fence whenthe vehicle stops at a customer location. Activation of the geo-fenceprovides a zone, often of a set radius, around the location of thevehicle when the geo-fence is activated. Activation of the geo-fencecauses a geo-locator, such as Geographic Positioning System (GPS)receiver, to turn on. While the geo-fence is activated the geo-locatordetermines the location of the asset on a scheduled basis and cantransmit the location to a central station, where a determination ismade a to whether the vehicle moves outside the geo-fence. Problems withsuch a system include the need for manual activation and the costsassociated with transmitting location information from the asset to acentral station when the geo-fence is activated. Alternatively thegeo-locator can be linked with a processor on the asset where theprocessor determines whether the vehicle moves outside the geo-fence.Such an occurrence triggers the processor to send a message to thecentral location indicating that the vehicle moved through thegeo-fence. This system reduces operating costs by limiting the sendingof messages to those times when a geo-fence is crossed. However, thissystem does not address the physical limitations associated with storinggeo-fences on an asset, and does not address the updating of geo-fenceinformation on an asset.

To overcome the need to manually activate a geo-fence, systems weredeveloped where pre-defined geo-fences were established aroundfacilities of the fleet owner and the customers, and transportationroutes between the facilities. While this makes it possible to monitorthe location of a vehicle throughout the day, many additional messageswould need to be sent because of the increased special coverage.

In order to reduce costs associated with sending and receiving messages,systems were developed where the geographic locations of a limitednumber of geo-fences were stored in memory on the asset and a processoron the asset determines whether the vehicle moves outside the geo-fence.Movement outside or through a geo-fence triggers the processor to send amessage to the central location indicating that the vehicle movedthrough the geo-fence. A limitation of this system is that thegeographic location of only a limited number of geo-fences can be storedin the memory of an asset. When geo-fences are needed that are notstored in memory on the asset, additional messages must be sent andreceived to obtain the geographic location of new geo-fences. In manywireless communications system charges are incurred for each messagesent or received. Therefore significant charges can accrue when an assetmoves among many geo-fences and their locations need to be placed orremoved from memory on the asset.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method of automaticallyand cost effectively updating the geo-fences stored in memory of adevice located on the asset.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system and method ofusing geo-fences to monitor the location of mobile assets, where a setof geo-fences are stored in a memory device on the asset and areautomatically replaced with the new set of geo-fences which are relatedto the travel path taken by the asset or facilities to be visited by theasset. This system and method substantially obviates one or more of theproblems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method ofusing geo-fences to monitor the location of mobile assets, where thegeographic locations of a set of geo-fences are stored in a memorydevice on the asset and are automatically replaced with a new set ofgeo-fences which are related to the travel path taken by the asset orfacilities to be visited by the asset, where operating costs are reduceddue to reduced transmissions between communications system on the assetand a central station.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present inventions as embodied and broadly described, a system isprovided that stores a set of geo-fences in a storage device on theasset and automatically replaces these geo-fences with a new set ofgeo-fences based on the current location of the asset. The system canalso store operational information associated with each geo-fence in thestorage device on the asset and can provide alerts when an asset islocated in an unauthorized location.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of the monitoring and trackingsystem of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary map showing the use of geo-fences and thedesignation of a trigger geo-fence in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3. is a schematic representation of the steps in the method ofusing the monitoring and tracking system of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4. is a block diagram of a method of controlling geo-fences on anasset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the presentinvention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a representative system formonitoring the location of an asset 5. The system includes an asset 5containing a telematics device 10. Telematics device 10 may include thefollowing components: a power supply 15, a location device 20,communications system 30, processor 40 and a memory 50, where each ofthe components is linked to the power supply, or contains its own powersupply when modular components are used. Location device 20 is connectedto antennae 25 to receive signals from geo-location references 90, suchas satellites. Communications system 30 is connected to antennae 35 tocommunicate through a communications system 60 to the central station 70which is linked to memory 80, which contains a library 85, or database,of geo-fences, which may also contain information (such as operatingparameters) associated with each geo-fence.

Asset 5 represents a vehicle, trailer, or other device for which aposition is to be monitored. Telematics device 10 may be single unitwhich contains all of the components, or individual components, orgroups of components, linked together. Power supply 15 may include fuelcells, dry cells, or other types of battery, and may include at leastone solar cell or other energy harvesting device and associated hardwareand or software to power the devices or recharge of the battery. Powersupply 15 can also include voltage and/or current regulatory circuitryto supply power to other components in telematics device 10. Whentelematics device 10 contains an individual component, that componentmay contain its own power source or be linked to power supply 15.

Location device 20 is a position determining system, such as the GlobalPositioning System (GPS), Differential GPS (DGPS), Eurofix DGPS, and theGlobal Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). Importantly, the presentinvention is well-suited to use any position determining system (bothterrestrial and satellite based) as well as future systems that may bedeveloped, and is not dependent on the use of a particular system.Location device 20 can receive signals from external geo-locationreferences 90, such as satellites, through antennae 25. In oneembodiment, location device 20 is part of, or integrated with, thetransceiver or receiver of the communications system 30, althoughlocation device 20 can also be a separate device specifically fordetermining the location of the asset 5, or can be a receiver integratedwithin the telematics device 10. The antenna 25 for the location device20 may be integrated into the location device 20 or it can be a separatecomponent linked to location device 20 either directly or throughlinkages in the telematics device 10. In an embodiment, the position ofthe vehicle can be determined using another type of locating system,such as a system of terrestrial towers that transmit signals to and/orreceive signals from a receiver/transmitter located in or on thevehicle. Such a system can use propagation times between the vehicle andthe terrestrial towers to triangulate the vehicle's position. This typeof triangulation system can be implemented, for example, using acellular telecommunication infrastructure.

Communications system 30 is any wireless system located on the assetwhich is linked to processor 40 and allows two-way communicationsbetween the telematics device 10 on the asset and a central station 70and may use a communication system 60. The antenna 35 for thecommunications system 30 may be integrated into the communicationssystem 30 or be a separate component which is linked to communicationssystem 30 either directly or through linkages in the telematics device10.

Processor 40 can be part of an embedded device (e.g., an onboardcomputer with limited functionality) or can be a general use processorthat is part of the asset 5. The processor 40 is linked to power supply15, location device 20, communications system 30 and memory 50. Memory50 may be any device, including magnetic, optical or solid-state memory,where information stored in the device may be changed by the user.Memory 50 is used to contain a set of geo-fences 130 and information 150(such as operating parameters) associated with each geo-fence.

Communication system 60 can be a public or private wireless network thatallows two way communications between the communications system 30 intelematics device 10 on the asset 5 and central station 70.Communications system 60 and communications system 30 are compatible fortransferring data on geo-fences and associated information betweencentral station 70 and processor 40 on asset 5.

Telematics device 10 is capable of operating in various modes, dependingupon information associated with the geo-fence 150 within which asset 5is located. Information associated with each geo-fence 150 may include,but is not limited to, operating parameters such as frequency ofdetermining the locating the asset; determining if notification ofcentral station 70, or some other contact is required; contingencyactions 160 to be taken when the asset is determined to be outside of ageo-fence. Specific examples of these types of information include: therate of determining the location of the asset 5 may be higher when theasset 5 is moving between facilities compared to when it is located at afacility; notification of a facilities manager when an asset 5 enter ageo-fence whose border is some distance from the facility, therebyproviding time for personnel and equipment at the facility to beprepared for arrival of the asset 5; and having the contingency actionchange from sending notification to the central station when an asset isa short distance outside a geo-fence to sending notification to thecentral station and law enforcement when the asset is a further distanceoutside the geo-fence. A fleet manager can also establish through use ofassociated information 150 whether a vehicle reports its location tocentral station 70 and/or the customer when entering or leaving certaingeo-fences. In addition to routine tracking for security, this featurecould provide advanced notification of the arrival of the vehicle sothat the appropriate personnel are available in a timely manner at thevehicles next destination to handle cargo or other items on the vehicle.

Importantly, operating parameter data can include parameters thatcontrol any aspect of the operation of the telematics device. Thus,operating parameters can be used to control the operation of sensors(not shown) that are connected to it that sense various conditions ofthe asset. Those sensors include, but are not limited to, thermometersto sense the temperature of the asset or the temperature of a part ofthe asset such as wheel bearings, motion sensors to sense whether theasset is in motion, door sensors to sense the position of doors orhatches on the asset, valve condition sensors to sense the condition ofvalves on a tank car, impact sensors to measure any impact to the assetspeed sensors to measure the speed of the asset, accelerometers tomeasure the acceleration of the asset, and content sensors to determinethe presence of material in an area, such as a cargo in a trailer. Inaddition, other data can be determined or extracted from data measuredwith sensors, including maximum and minimum temperature, maximum andminimum speed, total time stopped (using a clock in addition to themotion sensor), total time moving, and average speed.

The operating parameter data could include information indicating therate or time at which the telematics device should take readings fromthe various sensors, and could also include information indicating therate or time at which the telematics device should transmit sensorinformation to the central station. For example, in one embodiment, theoperating parameter data for a geo-fence could include data that directsthe telematics device to measure the speed of the asset within thatgeo-fence periodically. This embodiment could be used in geo-fencescovering interstate highway areas where there is a higher chance thatthe asset will be driven at excessive speed. In another embodiment, theoperating parameter data for a geo-fence could include data that directsthe telematics device to transmit information concerning any change inthe status of the door sensor. This embodiment could be used ingeo-fences covering areas where the doors of the asset are not expectedto be opened or closed. The operating parameter data can include datathat controls any aspect of the operation of the telematics device andassociated sensors.

The operating parameter data can also include rules that should beapplied to the data received by the telematies device when it is in thearea defined by a particular geo-fence, can include data that is used byrules that are already stored in the telematics device, or can includedata that directs the telematics device to use a particular rule that isstored within the telematics device within the area defined by aparticular geo-fence. For example, the operating parameter data mayprovide that the telematics device should monitor speed using a speedsensor when the asset is within a particular geo-fence. The operatingparameter data may also provide that the measured speed should becompared to a threshold speed using a rule, and that if the measuredspeed exceeds the threshold speed, an alert message is generated by thetelematics device and transmitted to the central station. In one versionof this embodiment, the rule is already within the memory of thetelematics device, and the operating parameter data includes data thatdirects the telematics device to measure speed and to apply the rulewithin the geo-fence. The operating parameter data may also include thethreshold speed that should be used for the rule, or the threshold speedmay already be set within the telematics device. In another version ofthis embodiment, the rule is not already within the memory of thetelematics device, and the rule is one of the operating parameter datathat is associated with a geo-fence when it is updated.

Central station 70 can be any facility capable of two way communicationswith communications system 30 in telematics device 10 on the asset 5 andlinked to memory 80 containing a library 85 of geo-fences andinformation 150 (such as operating parameters for the telematics device)associated with each geo-fence. Memory 80 can be any device, includingmagnetic, optical or solid-state memory, where information stored in thedevice may be changed by the user.

Geo-location references 90 utilized will depend upon the location device20. When A GPS receiver 20 is used, the geo-location references 90 willcomprise a portion of the set of GPS (also known as NAVSTAR) satellites.In other types of geo-location systems, geo-location references 90 couldbe cellular communication towers, or other locations/system whichprovide reference points utilized by location device 20.

The process of using a trigger geo-fence 110 to replace the set ofgeo-fences 130 and associated information 150 stored in the telematicsdevice 10 on the asset is best shown by example, which is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention. FIG. 2 is a map containinggeo-fences corresponding to boundaries around customer facilities 170,fleet facilities 175, and routes between facilities 180. Each geo-fence100 is defined by coordinates (e.g., GPS coordinates,latitude/longitude, or other coordinates depending on thegeo-referencing system used) chosen to represent the geo-fence 100. Ageo-fence around a facility 170, 175 may range in complexity from acircle or rectangle to a highly irregular shape which follows a complexperimeter around the facility. A geo-fence along or around a route 180may range in complexity from a line or rectangle which approximates theroute of travel to a highly irregular shape which more accuratelyfollows the route. There are a number of methods for constructing thesegeo-fences which will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Geo-fencesmay also be constructed around routes 180 which fleet vehicles will beallowed to take without triggering an alert.

Trigger geo-fences are selected from the available defined geo-fences. Atrigger geo-fence 110 is a geo-fence which has been designated as afence that causes a new, pre-defined set of geo-fences to be sent frommemory 80 linked to central station 70 through communication system 60to telematics device 10, where they are stored in the memory 50 on theasset 5, if the asset is within the area defined by the triggergeo-fence. In one embodiment, a trigger geo-fence 110 is selected basedon the requirement that an asset in an area heavily populated withgeo-fences must travel trough this geo-fence to reach a different areawhich is also heavily populated with geo-fences. As seen in FIG. 2.,Region A is heavily populated by geo-fences. Asset 5 traveling withinthis region would have the coordinates of the set of geo-fencescorresponding to region A, and associated information on the geo-fences,in memory 50 on its telematics device 10. Region B, which is alsoheavily populated by geo-fences, is connected to Region A by twogeo-fences, labeled R1 and R2, which are designated as triggergeo-fences 110. When asset 5 enters geo-fence R1 from Region A, thesystem and method of the invention cause a set of replacement geo-fencescorresponding to Region B (which may include the fence for R1, or thefence for R1 already on the asset may simply be retained) to be placedin memory 50 on the asset 5. Similarly, when asset 5 enters geo-fence R2from Region A, the system and method of the invention causes a set ofreplacement geo-fences corresponding to Region B to be placed in memory50 on the asset 5. When asset 5 enters geo-fence R1 from Region B, thesystem and method of the invention causes a set of replacementgeo-fences corresponding to Region A to be placed in memory 50 on theasset 5. Similarly, when asset 5 enters geo-fence R2 from Region B, thesystem and method of the invention causes a set of replacementgeo-fences corresponding to Region A to be placed in memory 50 on theasset 5.

The example shown in FIG. 2 is only one example of the use of triggergeo-fences, and other embodiments, such as embodiments where differenttrigger geo-fences are used on either side of the boundary between tworegions. In foregoing embodiments, it is desirable to have the systemretain in the telemetrics system memory 50 the trigger geo-fence inwhich the asset is located at the time the request for an additional set(or part of a set) of geofences is made by the asset's telematicssystem. Alternatively, systems and methods may be used in which atrigger geo-fence triggers the updating of the set (or part of a set) ofgeo-fences stored in the telematics system memory when the asset leavesor enters the trigger geo-fence. The system and method for replacing theset of geo-fences stored in a memory device on the asset with a new setof geo-fences is further described below, with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the method of automatically replacing geo-fenceswithin a telematics system. According to the method of the invention,the present location of a mobile asset is determined using the locationdevice on the telematics system. Location device 20 is a positiondetermining system, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS),Differential GPS (DGPS), Eurofix DGPS, and the Global NavigationSatellite System (GLONASS).

After the present location of the mobile asset is determined, adetermination is made as to whether the present location of the asset iswithin the area defined by a trigger geo-fence stored in the telematicssystem memory. A set of geo-fences 125 is initially selected from thelibrary of geo-fences 85 in memory 80 and is stored within thetelematics memory 50. For example, a fleet dispatch manager may identifya permissible route to the taken by an asset 5 by defining a series ofgeo-fences along a predetermined route. The initially selected set ofgeo-fences are stored in memory 50 on asset 5. At least one of thegeo-fences stored in the telematics system memory 50 is a triggergeo-fence.

Central processor 40 determines if the current location of the asset 5is within the area defined by a geo-fence whose location is stored onthe asset 130. To determine whether the asset is located within aparticular geo-fence, the positional coordinates of the actual locationof the asset is compared with the coordinates of the area defined by thegeo-fence. If the location is not within the geo fence being considered,the processor 40 can compare the current location with another geo-fencestored in the memory 50 on the asset 5. This process can be continueduntil either a geo-fence is identified within which the asset islocated, or it is determined that the asset is not within any of thegeo-fences stored in the memory 50 on the asset 5. If the vehicle is notwithin any of the geo fences stored on the asset, notification of thismay be sent to central station 70.

In another embodiment, when determining whether the location of an assetis within a geo-fence, it may desirable to avoid checking the currentlocation against every possible geo-fence stored in memory on the asset.Thus, the comparison may begin with last geo-fence in which the assetwas determined to have been located. If it is determined that the assetis no longer within that geo-fence, adjacent geo-fences may then bechecked. Comparison of the current location of the asset with thelocation of geo-fences may then continue from geo-fence in which theasset was last present until either a geo-fence is found which containsthe asset, or until all geo-fences have been checked, at which point analert is sent to central station 70.

In another embodiment in which the current location of the asset isdetermined in relatively short time intervals and the geo-fence in whichthe asset is located is also determined in relatively short timeintervals, it may be possible to assume that the asset could not havetraveled across more than a certain number of geo-fences betweenconsecutive comparisons. Accordingly, once the asset is found to nolonger be located in a particular geo-fence, it may be possible thatonly a certain limited number of successive adjacent geo-fences need bechecked before sending an alert. If the comparisons occur on asufficiently regular basis, it might be sufficient to check only thenext and previous geo-fences along the intended route of travel. Inaddition, it may be desirable in some instances to be able to detect ifan asset backtracks on a route. In such a case, only the next adjacentsegment and not the previous segment, would be checked.

If the asset is within the area defined by a trigger geo-fence stored inthe telematics system memory, the set of geo-fences stored in thetelematics system memory is updated. The updating may be performed byreplacing the set of geo-fences stored in the telematics system memorywith a set of geo-fences stored in the library of sets of geo-fences atthe central station. In a more specific embodiment shown in FIG. 4, thisupdating is accomplished in several steps. First, the telematics device10 transmits to the central station 70 a request for a replacement setof geo-fences. This request may also include the present location of theasset and information concerning the trigger geo-fence (such as theidentity of the trigger geo-fence) in which the asset is located. Then,the central station 70 selects the replacement set of geo-fences basedon the present location of the asset and the trigger geo-fence, andtransmits the replacement set of geo-fences to the telematics device 10via a wireless link between the telematics communications system 30 andthe central station communications system 60. The telematics system thencauses the replacement set of geo-fences to be placed in the telematicsmemory 50.

The selection of the replacement set of geo-fences may be made innumerous ways. In one embodiment, the selection can be based on adetermination of the direction in which the asset is traveling, and thenselecting the replacement set of geo-fences based on that determination.For example, a trigger geo-fence may be rectangular in shape extendingeast to west. If the present location of the asset indicates that theasset is located in the west portion of the trigger geo-fence, it may bedetermined that the asset is traveling from west to east if the presentlocation is determined in relatively short time periods or if thepresent location is determined when an asset enters a new geo-fence.Based on this determination, a set of geo-fences that are east of thetrigger geo-fence may be selected for transmission.

In another embodiment, the selection of replacement sets of geo-fencesis based on a determination of which set of replacement geo-fences aremost closely located to the current location of the asset and the regiondefined by the set of geo-fences already in the telematics system'smemory. This embodiment would involve the steps of determining whichsets of geo-fences in the library of geo-fences comprise a region thatis adjacent to the region defined by the existing set of geo-fenceswithin the asset's memory, then determining which of the sets ofgeo-fences in the library of geo-fences is closest in location to thepresent location of the asset. After those steps are performed, areplacement set of geo-fences from the library is chosen based uponwhich set of geo-fences in the library of geo-fences comprises a regionthat is adjacent to the first region and which set of geo-fences storedin the library of geo-fences is closest to the present location of theasset. This embodiment could be used where a number of sets ofgeo-fences are adjacent to set of geo-fences in which the asset islocated.

Updating the set of geo-fences in the telematics system memory 50 mayinvolve only replacing some of the geo-fences in the memory 50. Thisembodiment may be useful in a number of contexts, including where thetelematics system is able to store a large number of geo-fences within aset, and it is desired to update those geo-fences on a piecemeal basis.This embodiment may also be useful in areas where there a high number ofgeo-fences that make it difficult to establish complete sets ofgeo-fences for replacement. Another situation where this embodiment maybe useful is where the telematics communications system 30 is cellularbased, and the area covered by the geo-fences is in a rural area wherecellular reception is limited. In that situation, it may be desirable toupdate geo-fences on a piecemeal basis rather than updating them inwhole sets.

Operational information for the telematics system may be associated witheach geo-fence 150, such that particular operational information can beapplied to the telematics system within each geo-fence. In oneembodiment of the invention, operational information is associated witheach geo-fence in set of geo-fences stored in the telematics systemmemory 50 and each geo-fence in the library of geo-fences 85. When theset of geo-fences in the telematics system memory 50 is updated, thereplacement geo-fences and their associated operating parameters takethe place of the geo-fences and associated operating parameters alreadyin the telematics memory 50. In another embodiment each geo-fence 100 islinked to a look-up table, or an equivalent, containing all of theoperational parameters, and the look-up table is permanently placed in amemory 50 in a telematics device 10 on the asset 5. In this embodiment,codes corresponding to operating parameters in the look-up table, or anequivalent, may be associated with each geo-fence rather the actualoperating parameters, resulting in decreased memory usage. Operationalinformation associated with each geo-fence 150 may include, but is notlimited to, frequency of determining the locating the asset;determination is notification of central station 70, or some othercontact is required; contingency actions 160 to be taken when the assetis determined to be outside of a geo-fence.

If the asset 5 is not within a geo-fence whose location is stored on theasset, a predetermined contingency action 160 may be implemented. Onetype of contingency action may be the transmittal of an alert from thetelematics device 10 to central station 70. This transmittal may alsoinclude the unique identification of the asset 5. The alert may beselected from a schedule of proximity actions, each varying in degree ofurgency or indication of relative distance or time, among otherparameters. At one level of action, the fleet dispatch manager cancontact the driver of the vehicle to inquire about the nature of thedeviation from the predefined route. Other contingency actions mayinclude activating an automatic telephone messaging service, triggeringa pager, or otherwise reporting the event to the user.

This system and the accompanying methods can have vast implications withregard to homeland security in that they can provide an automated systemthat requires minimal human intervention to help prevent, or rapidlyrecover, vehicles carrying hazardous, dangerous, or valuable cargo frombeing stolen. Similarly, they can prevent, or allow the rapid recoveryof, vehicles themselves from being stolen or used for unauthorized orillegal purposes.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A method of automatically updating a set of geo-fences stored on astorage device of a telematics system on a mobile asset that iswirelessly linked to a central station, wherein the telematics systemhas a location device and wherein at least one of the geo-fences of theset of geo-fences stored in the telematics system memory is a triggergeo-fence, comprising: determining the present location of the mobileasset with the location device; determining at the asset whether thepresent location of the mobile asset is located within the area definedby the trigger geo-fence stored in the telematics system memory; andupdating via the wireless link the set of geo-fences stored in thetelematics system memory based upon the present location of the assetand the trigger geo-fence within which the asset is located, byreplacing at least one of the geo-fences stored in the telematics systemmemory with replacement geo-fences from a library of geo-fences storedon a storage device at the central station, wherein the replacementgeo-fences are selected such that at least one geo-fence in thetelematics system memory is a trigger geo-fence after the replacementgeo-fences replace part of the set of geo-fences stored in thetelematics system memory, if the mobile asset is located within the areadefined by one of the trigger geo-fence stored in the telematics systemmemory.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the set of geo-fencesstored in the telematics system memory based upon the location of theasset and the trigger geo-fence within which the asset is locatedfurther comprises: determining the general direction the asset istraveling based upon the present location of the asset within the areadefined by the trigger geo-fence within which the asset is located;selecting the replacement geo-fences based upon the general direction ofthe asset, such that the replacement geo-fences selected correspond toareas in the general direction in which the asset is heading.
 3. Themethod of claim 1: wherein the set of geo-fences in the storage deviceon the asset is comprised of geo-fences that are proximate to eachother; wherein updating the set of geo-fences stored in the telematicssystem memory based upon the location of the asset and the triggergeo-fence within which the asset is located further comprises:determining which of the geo-fences stored in the library of geo-fencesis closest to the present location of the asset; selecting replacementgeo-fences from the library of geo-fences based upon which set ofgeo-fences in the library of geo-fences is closest to the presentlocation of the asset.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating theset of geo-fences stored in the telematics system memory furthercomprises: transmitting from the telematics system on the asset to thecentral station via the wireless link a request for replacementgeo-fences if the mobile asset is located within the area defined by atrigger geo-fence stored in the telematics system memory, wherein therequest also includes the present location of the asset and informationconcerning the geo-fence within which the asset is presently located;selecting replacement geo-fences based upon the present location of theasset and information concerning the geo-fence within which the asset ispresently located; transmitting from the central station to thetelematics system on the asset via the wireless link the replacementgeo-fences; and storing the replacement geo-fences in the telematicssystem memory by replacing the set of geo-fences already stored in thetelematics system memory with the replacement geo-fences.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein operating parameter data for the telematics systemis associated with at least one geo-fence in the set of geo-fencesstored in the telematics system memory; wherein operating parameter datafor the telematics system is associated with at least one geo-fencestored in the library of geo-fences; and wherein updating the set ofgeo-fences stored in the telematics system memory further includesreplacing operating parameter data associated with the geo-fences storedin the telematics system memory with operating parameter data associatedwith the geo-fences of the replacement geo-fences.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising setting, for geo-fences having associatedoperating parameter data, the operating parameters for the telematicssystem using the operating parameter data associated with the geo-fencein which the asset is located.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein theoperating parameter data associated with each geo-fence havingassociated operating parameter data comprises the frequency ofdetermining the present location of the asset.
 8. The method of claim 5,wherein the operating parameter data associated with at least onegeo-fence having associated operating parameter data comprises thefrequency of transmitting information from the asset to the centralstation.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating parameter dataassociated with at least one geo-fence having associated operatingparameter data comprises information relating to a rule to be applied bythe telematics system.
 10. The method of claim 5, wherein the operatingparameter data associated with at least one geo-fence having associatedoperating parameter data comprises the frequency of sensing a conditionof the asset using a sensor on the asset.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the conditions sensed on the asset are selected from the groupof temperature, motion, door position, valve condition, impact, speed,acceleration, and presence of cargo in the asset.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the present location of the asset is determinedperiodically.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determiningwhether the asset is located within the area defined by any geo-fencestored in the storage device on the asset, and providing an alert if theasset is not located within the area defined by a geo-fence stored inthe storage device on the asset.
 14. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising determining whether the asset is exiting a geo-fence storedin the storage device on the asset and providing an alert if the assetis entering an area not defined by a geo-fence stored in the storagedevice on the asset.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein each member ofthe set of geo-fences stored on the asset corresponds to either afacility to which the asset might travel or a geographical route betweenfacilities along which the asset might travel.
 16. The method of claim1, wherein each geo-fence stored in the library of geo-fences at thecentral station corresponds to either a facility to which the assetmight travel or a geographical route between facilities along which theasset might travel.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset has aunique identifier; and wherein updating via the wireless link the set ofgeo-fences stored in the telematics system memory is also based upon theunique identifier of the asset.
 18. The method of claim 1, furtherincluding retaining the trigger geo-fence in the telematics systemmemory when the set of geo-fences stored in the telematics system memoryis updated.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at the assetwhether the present location of the mobile asset is located within thearea defined by one of the trigger geo-fences stored in the telematicssystem memory comprises determining whether the asset has entered thearea defined by one of the trigger geo-fences stored in the telematicssystem memory.
 20. A system for automatically updating a set ofgeo-fences on a mobile asset, the system comprising: an asset having atelematics system having memory, a locating device, and an assetcommunications system for sending and receiving messages, wherein a setof geo-fences is stored in the telematics memory and wherein at leastone of the geo-fences is a trigger geo-fence; a central station having alibrary of geo-fences and a central station communications system forsending an receiving messages, wherein at least one geo-fence in thelibrary is designated as a trigger geo-fence; wherein the locatingdevice determines the present location of the asset, wherein thetelematics system determines whether the present location of the assetis within the area defined by one of geo-fences of the set of geo-fencesstored in the telematics memory; wherein the telematics system causesthe set of geo-fences stored in the telematics memory to be updated byreplacing a part of the set of geo-fences stored in the telematicsmemory with replacement geo-fences from the library of geo-fences suchthat at least one geo-fence in the telematics system memory is a triggergeo-fence after the replacement geo-fences replace part of the set ofgeo-fences stored in the telematics system memory, if the asset islocated within the area defined by one of the trigger geo-fences storedon the telematics memory.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein operatingparameter data for the telematics system is associated with at least onegeo-fence in the set of geo-fences stored on the telematics memory;wherein operating parameter data for the telematics system is associatedwith at least one geo-fence in each set of geo-fences stored in thelibrary of geo-fences; and wherein causing the set of geo-fences in thetelematics memory to be updated further includes replacing operatingparameter data associated with the geo-fences stored in the telematicssystem memory with operating parameter data associated with thegeo-fences of the replacement geo-fences.
 22. The system of claim 21,further comprising setting, for geo-fences having associated operatingparameter data, the operating parameters for the telematics system usingthe operating parameter data associated with the geo-fence in which theasset is located.
 23. The system of claim 21, further comprising atleast one sensor on the asset for sensing a condition of the asset,wherein the operating parameter data associated with each geo-fencehaving associated parameter data comprises the frequency of sensingconditions of the asset using the at least one sensor.
 24. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group oftemperature sensor, motion sensor, door position sensor, valve conditionsensor, impact sensor, speed sensor, acceleration sensor, and contentssensor.